Public Works/Utilities Director - City of Williston

Position Summary

The Director of Public Works/Utilities provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the City’s infrastructure and utility services, including water production and distribution; wastewater treatment and collection; electric and/or gas systems; parks, streets and stormwater management; and related public works activities (including facilities).

This position is responsible for developing and implementing goals, policies, budgets, and long-term strategies that ensure reliable, compliant, and cost-effective infrastructure operations.  The Director ensures that all departmental functions align with the City’s mission, regulatory obligations, and community needs for sustainable growth and high-quality service delivery.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Administration

• Provide oversight and strategic direction to division supervisors and operational staff.
• Assist with hiring, training, evaluating, and developing departmental employees.
• Carry out management responsibilities in accordance with City policies, procedures, and applicable laws.
• Plan and direct operational and administrative functions across multiple utility and public works divisions.
• Evaluate short- and long-range community infrastructure needs and help shape investment and asset management strategies.
• Guide infrastructure planning and capital improvements to support community growth.
• Prepare and manage departmental operating and capital budgets, including financial strategies and funding applications (i.e., grants, loans, etc.).
• Prepares and presents cover memos, resolutions, utility-related ordinance updates, and budget amendments for City Council approval.
• Maintain effective public relations with residents, businesses, contractors, and stakeholders; respond to customer service and utility concerns, when needed.
• Collaborate closely with the City Manager, consultants, and regional/state agencies to align infrastructure initiatives with City goals.

Project & Construction Oversight

• Oversee and coordinate major construction and capital improvement projects, ensuring adherence to approved budgets, schedules, safety standards, and compliance requirements.
• Coordinate design reviews, technical evaluations, and permitting for capital projects.
• Lead permitting efforts and serve as the primary liaison with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.
• Ensure all projects comply with applicable regulations, including FDEM, FDEP, FDOT, and other governing authorities.
• Supervise inspection activities related to utilities, right-of-way work, roadway construction, and infrastructure development.
• Interpret and enforce Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) specifications and quality control requirements.
• Review engineering plans for proposed developments to ensure compliance with City standards, codes, and regulations.
• Maintain thorough project documentation to meet internal and external auditing standards.

Technical & Operational Management

• Analyze system needs, identify operational efficiencies, and recommend process or infrastructure improvements.
• Provide expert technical guidance in the areas of water, wastewater, electricity, gas, parks, streets, stormwater, and public works operations (including facilities).
• Oversee preventive maintenance and asset management programs to ensure system reliability and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with the GIS Coordinator on updates to the City’s utility asset management system and GIS data.
• Ensure departmental compliance with safety regulations, environmental standards, and workplace policies.
• Direct emergency response activities during weather events, outages, or infrastructure failures, including after-hours availability as needed.

Fiscal & Regulatory Accountability

• Develop and manage budgets, funding strategies, and cost recovery models for the department.
• Identify and pursue grant opportunities, SRF loans, and other external funding sources for capital projects.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations governing water, wastewater, electric/gas utilities, parks, streets, stormwater management, and public works (including facilities).
• Maintain accurate records and reporting to support audits, permits, and regulatory submissions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in municipal public works or utilities management, including at least 3–5 years in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Valid Florida driver’s license.
• Valid Commercial driver’s license (CDL).
• Comprehensive understanding of public infrastructure systems, utilities operations, construction management, and applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage budgets, and deliver results under complex regulatory and operational conditions.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills with a strong customer service orientation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Florida Professional Engineer (P.E.) license.
• Certifications in water or wastewater operations, stormwater management, or utility management.
• Experience working with FDOT specifications, FDEP permitting, SRF funding, and municipal capital improvement planning.
• Familiarity with GIS, asset management systems, and modern utility technologies.

Working Conditions

• Work performed in both office and field environments.  Field inspections may require exposure to outdoor elements, confined spaces, or hazardous conditions.
• Must be available for emergency callouts and disaster response.
• Physical requirements include walking, standing, lifting up to 25 pounds, and occasional climbing or bending.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary is commensurate with experience, education, and certifications.
• The City offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plan, paid leave, and professional development support.
• The City of Williston is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with ADA and all applicable employment laws.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT:

The employee must reside within 30 minutes of City Hall (50 NW Main Street) using a mapping program.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIORNMENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess certain physical abilities and be able to withstand work-related environmental conditions.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

PHYSICAL AND DEXTERITY REQUIREMENTS:

Position requires mostly sedentary work that will occasionally require walking or standing for brief periods of time.  Requires sedentary work that involves sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time and may involve exerting up to fifteen (15) pounds of force occasionally to move objects, or considerable skill, adeptness, and speed in the use of fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving repetitive motions and the use of standard office equipment.

Great physical effort is not necessarily a part of the job, but long hours attending evening meetings or working on agency-related matters may be required.  Occasional travel out of town may also be necessary.  Stamina is required to endure and resolve crisis-oriented work situations.

SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

Sensory ability refers to hearing, sight, touch, taste, and smell required by the job.  The job requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of smell, depth perception, and texture perception.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/REQUIREMENTS:

During periods when the mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Williston, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job.  While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (i.e., emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs, or technological developments).